Rodent-exterminator.



W by

. Attorneys A. BAILEY.

RODENT EXTERMINATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC, 23, 1912.

1,080,529. Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Witnesses ASA BAILEY, OF NORTH VERNON, INDIANA.

RODENT-EX'IEBMINATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Application filed December 23, 1912. Serial No. 738,335.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Asa BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residingat North Vernon, in the county of Jennings and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Rodent-Exterminator, of which the following isa specification.

The present invention relates to a rodent exterminator or trap, and moreparticularly to a device of that character which is adapted toelectrocute rats or rodents.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a trap orexterminator of the character indicated which shall be of novel andimproved construction, and which shall combine simplicity, compactnessand cheapness of structure, with efficiency and serviceability.

As another object, the present invention contemplates the provision of aplatform over which the rodents are lured by suitable bait disposed atthe farther end thereof, in connection with electrodes secured on theplatform or runway adapted to be connected to a suitable source ofelectric current so as to electrocute the rodents bridging them duringtheir passage over the platform.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide in connection withthe means for electrocut-ing the rodents, a means whereby theelectrocuted rodents may be discharged into a box or other container,where they will be hidden from view, especially from the view of theother rodents in the act of entering the trap,

Among its other objects, this invention aims to provide means forwetting or moistening the feet of the rodents as they enter the trap inorder to insure of proper electrical. connection with the electrodes; toprovide means for excluding larger animals from the trap or to otherwiseprevent other objects from contacting with the electrodes; and tootherwise generally improve the construction and utility of devices ofthat character to which the present invention relates.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and ar*angement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein two preferred embodimentsof the present invention have been illustrated, Figure 1 is aperspective view of one form, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is asectional detail.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, thestructure disclosed therein, comprises a casing or frame 3 cmbodyingthesides t, which are cut diagonally or obliquely between their top andfront edges, as at F, and which are provided with the lower extension 6at their forward ends. The top 7 is secured on the sides 4, and a shelf8 is secured between the sides below the top 7, while a platform 9 issocured within the extension 6. An inclined runway 10 is secured betweenthe sides 4 and connects the shelf 8 and platform 9. A reticulated panel11 of wire mesh or the like is secured on the diagonal edges 5 of thesides 4:, and together with the top 7 provides a suitable covering toprevent the rodents from entering the bait compartment between the shelf8 and top 7 from a direction other than upwardly along the runway 10from its lower end. The covering also )revents small objects fromfalling into the trap, as well as obviating the possibility of other orlarger animals from accidentally entering the trap. The reticulatedpanel 11 exposes the bait, which is disposed on the shelf 8, and permitsthe bait as well as the runway to be sutliciently lighted from theexterior.

In order to electrocute the rodents as they pass up the runway 10 towardthe bait, a pair of electrodes 12 and 12, preferably in the form ofsuitable sheet. metal plates, are secured in a spaced relation on therunway 10, in order that the rodents in climbing upward or during theirascent will bridge the electrodes so as to close an electrical circuit,the terminals of which are secured to the respective plates. Theseelectrodes are provided with binding posts 13 to which are connected therespective terminals 14: of an electrical circuit of any suitablecharacter, preferably an alternating, interrupted, or varying currentproducing the proper pulsation for effectively electrocuting therodents. These electrodes are preferably secured adjacent the lower andupper ends of the runway, and may be suitably roughened to preventslipping and to insure the proper electrical contact of the feet of theanimals therewith, or if desired, the electrodes may be fashioned fromZinc, or other metal or alloy which does not present a smooth orslippery surface.

In order to dispose of the rodents as they are electrocuted, it beingnoted that the runway is inclined, and that when the rodents areelectrocuted, they will roll or gravitate down the runway, a trap dooris mounted at the lower end of the runway through which the dead rodentsmay be discharged into a box or any suitable container (see Fig. 2). Inorder to carry this into effect, a standard or upright 15 is secured toeach corner of the extension 6 or the platform 9, and a door 16 ishinged adjacent its upper end, as at 17, to the respective standards 15so that its free or lower end is suspended over the edge of the platform9. This door 16 is necessarily pivoted so as to swing freely or readilyand the platform 9 is of such dimensions that the rats or rodentsrolling or sliding down the runway after they have been electrocuted,may readily pass over the platform and under the door 16 to a box orcontainer. After the dead rats have been discharged under the door 16,the door will return to normal position and will hide from view, therats accumulating in the box, and especially to prevent those rodentsabout to enter the trap from viewing the electrocuted rats. Thestandards 15 and the door 16 also close the forward end of the trap, andleaves two passages or openings at the sides between the sides 4 and thestandards 15, through which the rodents may enter the trap.

Suitable trays or receptacles 18 are disposed at each side of theextension 6, or at the threshold of the entrance openings and areadapted to contain sawdust 19 or the like and in addition thereto aquantity of water so that the rodents in entering the trap, areconstrained to pass over the sawdust. Thus, the feet of the rodents aremoistened or dampened to insure of an electrical connection with theelectrodes 12 and 12 when the rodents bridge the same.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawing, it will beevident that the rats may readily enter the trap so as to pass onto theplatform 9, and from thence may crawl upward on the runway 10 toward thebait, it being preferable to supply a generous amount of bait so as tomost effectively lure the rodents. As the rodents pass up the runway 10,they will first encounter the elect-rode 12, and before reaching thebait, will bridge the space or gap between the two electrodes, and inthis event, will close the electrical circuit resulting in theirelectrocution. The dead or electroouted rodents, will roll or slide downthe runway across the platform 9 and under the door 16 to the propercontainer. The device is comparatively simple, there being no movingparts except the door 16, and it will be noted that the objects aimed athave been carried out satisfactorily.

What is claimed as new is 1. In a rodent exterminator, an inclinedrunway, spaced electrodes thereon, a bait holder at the upper end of therunway, and a trap door hinged adjacent its upper end with its lower endsuspended at the lower end of the runway, and providing entranceopenings between the sides of the runway and the edges of the doorleading to the lower end of the runway.

2. In a rodent exterminator, a casing including sides, an inclinedrunway secured therebetween, a platform secured to the lower end of therunway at the front of the sides, a bait holder arranged at the upperend of the runway, a trap door suspended over the edge of the platform,and providing entrance openings between the sides and door leading tothe platform and spaced electrodes secured on the runway.

3. A rodent exterminator, including a casing having sides, an inclinedrunway secured between the sides, a platform secured to the lower end ofthe runway at the front of the sides, a bait holder arranged at theupper end of the runway, spaced electrodes secured on the runway,standards arranged at the corners of the platform, and a door hingedbetween the standards, so as to provide entrance openings between thestandards and the sides leading to the platform.

d. In a rodent exterminator, a casing including sides, an inclinedrunway secured therebetween, a bait shelf secured between the sides atthe'upper end of the runway, a covering secured on the sides, spacedelectrodes secured on the runway, and a trap door mounted at the lowerend of the runway, and providing entrance openings between the door andsides leading to the lower end of the runway.

5. In a rodent exterminator, a casing including sides, and having alower extension at its forward end, an inclined runway secured betweenthe sides, a bait shelf secured between the sides at the upper end ofthe runway, a pair of spaced electrodes secured on the runway, aplatform secured to the extension at the lower end of the runway, acovering mounted on the sides, and a trap door suspended over the edgeof the platform, and providing entrance openings be tween the door andsides leading to the platform. (9 I 6. In a rodent exterminator, acasing including sides, and having a lower extension at its forward end,an inclined runway secured between the sides, the sides having diagonaledges above and parallel with the runway a top secured on the sides, ashell secured between the sides below the top and at the upper end ofthe runway, a reticulated panel secured on the diagonal edges, spacedelectrodes secured on the runway, a platform secured to the extension atthe lower end of the runway, standards secured to the cor- 11ers of theplatform, and a door hinged be- 10 tween the standards, so as to provideentrance openings between the standards and sides leading to theplatform.

In testimony that I clann the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afllxedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ASA BAILEY.

lVit-nesses M. .A. \Vnnns, M. T. LINDLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

